Course description

This course is designed for practising musicians who want to understand the technical environment within which commercial music takes place.

The BA (Hons) Popular Music with Music Technology programme is one of the few courses of its type in the country and is designed to equip you with the ability to interact and innovate within a vibrant environment, nurturing a specialism in popular music and related industries. The area of popular music is a dynamic, well established creative aspect of the music industry involving sophisticated craft, technical, analytical and scholarly approaches.

You will develop a wide range of disciplines through performance, composition, technology, media production, psychology, physics, philosophy, and musicology. You will also develop an in-depth appreciation of the increasing significance of popular music in economic and professional terms.

Here's what you can expect from this course:

You'll explore popular music performance, composition and production together with music technology. We'll help you to develop your creative and entrepreneurial flair so you can respond to technological and artistic innovations in the industry.

You'll develop your skills on your chosen instrument through group based learning activities. You'll also develop your expertise in composition and song writing and will study the social and business context of the world of commercial music.

You'll have regular opportunities to perform in public, and we'll encourage you to take part in the local music scene.

You will be taught by experienced lecturers, many with international research portfolios and current professional experience.

You will benefit from our strong links with the music industry and will be invited to participate in our yearly Music Production Show, with guest presentations from industry professional such as: Sound on Sound, Avid, Yamaha, Ableton and Focusrite.

Watch the video below of our latest facilities...

The music technology part of the course covers the technology of the recording studio, video production, along with the application of music software on digital audio workstations and the production/post-production of music for a variety of commercial applications.‌

This course is accredited by JAMES (Joint Audio Media Education Support) so that you can be confident that the course meets the high standards demanded by industry.

If you don't have the appropriate qualifications to start this course, you can study the Arts Year Zero first. You could also enhance your skills further, by going on to study our MA Music Production.

Music studios

The music studios at our Markeaton Street site include sound technology labs, surround-sound testing rooms and electronic labs.

Facilities

All art and design courses are based at our Markeaton Street site where modern, purpose built studios and labs provide a modern creative space for our arts students. Markeaton Street encompasses Chandos Pole Street (home to our Fashion and Textiles courses) and Britannia Mill (home to Fine Arts). Students on any of our theatre related courses also get to study at Derby Theatre, and Dance students study at Deda.

Markeaton Street is a 15 minute walk from Kedleston Road, and is serviced by regular free site shuttle buses.

What you will study

The course is divided into three stages, equating to three years of full-time study, each stage consisting of up to six single modules worth 20 credits each. This equates to 120 credits per year.

The modules in this programme correspond to particular themes of academic study shown below, the nature of each theme is summarised as follows:

Performance - This theme provides the practical underpinning of musical performance in an ensemble context. This includes the development of instrumental technique and skills and applicable music theory.

Composition and arrangement - This theme allows you to develop skills in music composition and arrangement as appropriate to the contemporary and commercial music sectors; in particular it allows the focus upon the application of technology in creative practice.

Music technology and production - This theme provides study of the technology of modern recording and production. Broadly it covers the technical features of modern recording studio technology and computer-based software applications including associated interface technologies.

Critical studies - This theme provides study of the history, context, and scholarship of popular music providing an opportunity for the students to develop research skills including Level 4 Personal Development Planning (PDP).

Professional Practice - This theme provides an opportunity to investigate associated business and vocational activities supporting Level 5 & 6 Personal Development Planning (PDP). Within any theme, the modules at a lower Level provide underpinning studies for those at a higher level.

The modules at this stage operate at an introductory level outlining the knowledge and expertise you will need to develop over the course of the programme. You will be encouraged to develop your own investigative strategies for learning and will begin to evolve a sense of responsibility for the quality of your course work.

You'll study modules such as:

Performance Studies

Song Writing

Music and Creative Technologies (includes PDP see below)

Musicianship Skills

Digital Audio Workstations

Principles of Arrangement

Personal Development Planning (PDP) is the process by which you monitor, reflect on and control your own professional and educational progress. You will be expected to maintain an electronic or paper-based Personal Development Planning Progress File covering such activities as career planning, work experience, communication skills, voluntary work, mentoring, problem solving etc.

At this stage modules function in an intermediate manner building upon what you have learned in stage one and encourage you to work with increasing independence and responsibility for the development of your work. You will begin to steer your academic focus through choosing modular options.

If you want to gain Popular Music with Music Technology work experience, you can take an optional work placement between stages two and three to apply your academic knowledge in a work environment. During the placement, you'll study an additional qualification, the Diploma in Professional Practice which features modules such as:

In this stage you will be given the opportunities to demonstrate independence and personalise your studies to focus upon your interests and developing expertise. You will produce independent performance, composition, recording and research projects.

You'll study modules such as:

Creative Project in Popular Music

Research Project

Entertainment Industry: Professional Practice

You will also choose two of the following modules such as:

Studio Post-Production

Recording Project

Live Performance

Multi-channel Sound and Auditory Perception

Find out more about Popular Music with Music Technology

The best way to find out if studying at Derby is right for you is to experience an Open Day. Get a feel for the city and campus, tour our first-class facilities and see where you could be living.

How you will learn

The timetable contains around 10 hours of contact with staff a week, with the remainder of the academic week engaged in directed study. All modules are supported through UDo, the University of Derby Online, so you have access to essential support materials at any time of the day or night.

You’ll discover a superb range of music making facilities at our Markeaton Street site, including state-of-the-art recording studios, rehearsal space, music technology labs and three post-production rooms equipped with latest software. The University has invested almost £350,000 in these facilities, ensuring you have access to resources which match those of professional studios in the UK and overseas. We offer a wide range of instruments, amplifiers and outboard gear on which you can develop your skills, together with a classic 48-channel Neve recording console.

We are one of the leading universities conducting research into surround-sound technologies. In February 2015, we also became the first UK university to have a Wave1 processor installed into our 24-channel surround lab, which has placed us at the forefront of developments in 3D sound - thanks to our close relationship with Swiss-based company Sonic Emotion.

While these studio facilities will provide an excellent setting for your taught sessions, they are also available for you to book at other times to fine-tune your personal music projects.

You will also hone your performance skills at venues across the city, including Derby Theatre which the University owns and runs as a professional producing theatre.

Assessments

A variety of assessment methods will be used. Some modules are assessed through coursework only, others by a combination of coursework, portfolios, assignments, case studies, oral and graphic presentations, collaborative and interdisciplinary team work projects, computer testing and examinations, so providing a flexible and effective means of assessing your progress. Assessments are designed to enable you to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes for your module. An assessment component may sometimes take the form of a number of small submissions e.g. lab reports or short in-class tests.

Degree Show

Every year students from the School of Arts celebrate their time at University by showcasing their work at an end of year Degree Show at Markeaton Street and across the City of Derby. The Show usually runs throughout June and is a fantastic opportunity for potential employers, friends, family, industry and members of the public to see exciting creations by the next generation of artists, designers, creators and makers from Derby. The Show takes the form of:

Alternative entry qualifications:

Access to HE Diploma 60 credits: 45 at level 3 with a minimum of Dist: 15 Merit: 24 Pass: 6

We usually consider an A-level in General Studies as a supplementary qualification. A good application/performance will be taken into account if you do not meet the criteria/offer conditions.

Our entry requirements for this course should be read together with the University's general entry requirements, which details subjects we accept, alternative qualifications and what we're looking for at Derby.

How to apply

Full-time students applying to start in September should apply for this course through UCAS or you can apply directly to the University for an undergraduate course if you’re not applying to any other UK university in the same year.

Full-time students applying to start in September should apply for this course through UCAS or you can apply directly to the University for an undergraduate course if you’re not applying to any other UK university in the same year.

Careers

Our graduates are equipped for employment within the modern commercial music sector as performers, composers, producers, educators, promoters, publishers, academics, recording studio engineers and entrepreneurial freelance musicians. They also work in a range of media organisations.

Others have gone on to further study, at MA, MSc or PhD level, or successfully completing PGCE for school of college level teaching, some gaining QTS teaching qualifications for primary or secondary education. This enables them to become teachers, entering the primary and secondary education sector, lecturing for colleges of further education and freelance instrumental teaching.

Notable graduates

Jake Graham and Chris Burns established the band Fahran performing at festivals around the UK and Europe; they have returned to headline the Popular Music Showcase two years in a row. See some of their work on their YouTube channel.

† Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Additional costs and optional extras

We’re committed to providing you with an outstanding learning experience. Our expert teaching, state-of-the-art facilities and great employability prepare you for your future career. As part of our commitment to you we aim to keep any additional study costs to a minimum. However, there are occasions where students may incur some additional costs.

Included in your fees

Use of resources, hi-end recording studios for both curricula and extra-curricular activities, studio time.

Optional costs not included in your fees

Travel for work placement opportunities (costs will vary dependant on location)

We provide full details of all course fees, but extra costs may include field trips (approx. cost £200-£400)

Please note: Our courses are refreshed and updated on a regular basis. If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.